Crystal AJ Smith

There are a plethora of excellent titles coming out this June, but a real standout is Gitwaałtk by Crystal AJ Smith, out with Gordon Hill Press. Crystal is Haisla and Ts’ymsen and was adopted into the Heiltsuk nation. A writer, poet, playwright, and activist, she holds a Master’s in Educational Administration and Leadership from UBC with a focus on Indigenous Leadership. She and her partner Raymond Shaw live in Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ territory with their four children. Smith is dedicated to learning and revitalizing her Haisla and Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ languages and traditions. Gitwaałtk is her debut novel, and I am certain it will come to occupy a vital place in the literary cannon.

1. What life events and/or preoccupations shaped this book as you wrote it?

Many many life events occurred over the 10 or so years it took me to write this book.

I left an abusive relationship, became a single mother, and dealt with the grief that came out of becoming a single mother because of abuse. I think about the loss of my dear Cousin Darla, my late Auntie Lila and my baba Uncle Henry. I also completed my BEd and Master’s degree. I wrote some of this book during my first year as a teacher in Kitkatla, and a bit more while teaching in Klemtu. I met the love of my life in ƛ̓amataxʷ and we had two beautiful babies.

I also attended a virtual writing program through Banff and met some amazing Indigenous writers which really propelled the book forward and connected me with Gordon Hill Press. All of which shaped me and Gitwaałtk.

2. What was one of your biggest challenges in bringing the project to fruition?

My biggest challenge in bringing Gitwaałtk to life was living in survival mode for years. I left an abusive relationship just as I began writing the story and am still definitely learning to breathe and to be outside of survival.

3. What other stories or books inspired it, and why?

When I was a child, I remember being told about the ‘watsa and I have grown up knowing how unsafe I am just because I am Indigenous. The two stories I felt really came together. Our ancestors really walked the world with supernatural beings, at one point there was connection to all rather than connection to money. Gitwaaɫtk I feel takes steps towards those connections in ways I wish we could still do today.

4. What kind of impact do you hope it makes?

I hope it garners more awareness for MMIW and the highway of tears. I want Gitwaaɫtk to start conversations, I want it to reach more humans.

5. Is it connected to your next project in any way?

I am working on a sequel to Gitwaaɫtk, but I am also working on a poetry collection using new poems and very very old poems.

Thank-you for reading.